Braiding machine



April 6 1926. 1,579,697

O. A. FREDERICKSON BRAIDING MACHINE 3 Shets-Shee't 1 Filed April 18,1925 ATTORNEY April 6 1926.

O.A.FREDEmCK$ON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed April 18 1925 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTOR NE? A aril 6 1926.

o. A. FREDERICKSON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet5 ATTo kA/EY M M I leads inwardly towards. the braiding point PatentedApr. 6, 1926.

UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

arm A. rmznnnr'cxsoiv, or WETEERSFIELD, connncrrcor, AssIGNoR-ro rm!AMERL- CAN W'IBEMOLD COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION01 CONNECTICUT.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

Application filed April 18, 1925. Serial No. 24,201.

which are moved in concentric circular paths in opposite directions.

In braiding machines of this type as now generally constructed, theinner and outer yarn carriers are supported from and rotated in oppositedirections in concentric circles about a fixed tubular shaft. The yarnfrom the inner and outer'yarn carriers and the yarn from the outercarriers 18 alternately .raised and lowered relatively to the innercarriers-so that the inner carriers will pass alternately over and underthe outer yarn as'the carriers pass each other to produce the braidedeffect.

An urgent demand has recently arisen for braiding machines of thisgeneral type wherein the number of inner and outer yarn carriers may begreatly increased and the.

machine runat high speed. To increase the number of yarn carriers inthis type of braiding machines requires that the diameter of suchmachines be increased, that is, the diameter of the outer revolving drumwhich supports the outer yarn carriers, and in part also supports theinner yarn carriers, must -be increased, and since such increase in thediameter of the outer revolving drum removes the supporting portions ofsaid drum further and further from the central tubular shaft, theleverage and weight of the parts places a limit on this line ofdevelopment. Not only is it .neces-- sary to increase the diameter ofthe outer revolving drum to increase the number of the yarn carriers,but the raceway for the inner yarn carriers must be carried radiallyoutward from the tubular shaft from which they have been supported, withthe result that the parts sag under the increased weight and leverageconditions and difiiculty is experienced in starting and stopping themachines quickly, and under high speed such I structure chatters to suchan extent as to be impracticable.

One of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide a machine ofthis general type wherein the outer revolving drum is associated with afixed central drum which is itself coordinately enlarged with the outerrevolving drum, so that the objectionable leverage effect incident tothe enlargement of the outer revolvin drum of the old structure, ashereinbefore riefly pointed out, may be entirely eliminated and smoothpractical running of the parts is effected.

In accordance with the present invention,

the relation between the upstanding walls of the outer revolving andinner or centrally fixed drum may be maintained without in creasing theleverage effect between the two,

regardless of the size of the machine, with the result that any numberof inner .and outer yarn carriers may be provided in such machinewithout the introduction of the chattering and impractical operativeconditions incident to increasing the leverageeffeet from the centraltubular shaft in. the old form of the machine.

The relation between the outer revolving drum and the central fixed drumin the prescut invention is such that a. raceway is formed for the inneryarn carriers between the upstanding walls of the outer revolving andcentral fixed drum which may be of a width substantially equal to theradial dimensions of the inner carriers, and since the radial extent ofthe outer revolving drum from the inner fixed drum, or'the distancebetween the upstanding walls of the two drums, has not been increased inproviding accommodations for a greater number of inner yarn carriers, itfollows that a braiding machine constructed in accordance with thepresent invention is adapted for the employment of any number of innerand outer yarn carriers, as will more fully appear.

In braiding machines of this general type, it is not unusual to placethe braided covering about a core, and prior to-the laying of thebraided covering upon the core, to place upon the uncovered core a size,or it may be, tape or other wrapping material, and in accordance withthe present invention, the

central fixed drum provides for the support of the core-treatingelements within the bore or hollow portion of the fixed drum.

It is now the common practice in machines of this general class tosuperimpose two or more complete sets of braiding elements or machines,in order to lay upon the core two or more layers of the braid. \Vhen,however, such superimposed conditions have been attempted in the oldtype of such machines, difiiculty has been experienced in securingaccess to the upper one of such braiding elements, and another featureof the present invention, therefore, consists in so relating the partsof the braiding machine that the vertical height thereof shall beminimized to enable the machine attendant to have convenient access toany one of the series of superimposed braiding elements.

The invention and novel features and new combination of parts will bestbe made clear in width to the from the following specification andaccompanying drawings of one good form of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a braiding machinecontaining the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view with partsin section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section similar to that of Fig. 1, with some ofthe parts omitted, showing a braiding machine of the present inventionas having been constructed for the accommodation of an increased numberof inner and outer yarn carriers, as compared with the machine of Fig.1, and showing also certain modifications of parts.

The machine frame for supporting the braiding elements may be of anyusual or desired character suitable for this purpose and as showncomprises a series of upstanding supports 1, of which there may be anysuitable number. 7 Mounted upon the supports 1 are the outstandingflange portions 2 of arms 3 which form a convenient means 'forsupporting the central fixed drum. In

the present instance of the invention, the

arms 3 are formed integral with the cen- 4 is the outer revolving drum 5between the upstanding wall of which and the upstanding wall of thecentral fixed drum 4 a raceway is provided for the inner yarn carriers,and such racewap may be substantlally equal ength or radial dimensionsof the inner yarncarriers.

In the present instance of the. invention,

the central fixed drum 4 is provided with a shoulder portion 6 for thesupport of an intermediate drum 7. Between the shoulder portion dot thecentral fixed drum and the outstanding flange 8 of the intermediatedrumis an anti-friction bearing, preferably formed by a series of balls 9contained in suitable circular raceways formed in the shoulder 6 andoutstanding flange 8.

Below the ball raceway the central fixed drum is provided-with thecircular bearing 10 which fits in the adjacent surface of theintermediate drum 7, as, indicated in Fig. 1, and serves to steady thedrum 7 during its rotary movement, as will later appear.

The lower portion of the intermediate drum 7 is outturned as at 11, andsuch outturned portion 11 is provided with an upstanding. flange 12having a ball raceway 13 for the reception of a series of anti-fricchineframe is the driving shaft 15 which may be driven from any suitablesource of power through the belt pulley 16 or other means. members 17,shownv by dotted lines in Fig.

The drive shaft 15 carries clutch 1, through which may be driven thegear l8 which'meshes with a circular rack 19 on the intermediate drum 7and a similar circular rack 20 secured to the outer revolving drum 5,theconstruction being such that when the clutch members 17 are inoperative engagement, the beveled gear 18 will be rotated, therebyturning the intermediate drum 7 and the outer revolving drum 5 inopposite directions. The details of the clutch mechanism and theelectric stop 21 form no essential part of the present invention, andsince such parts are now old and well-known in the art, a descriptionthereof is unnecessary. l

Secured to the intermediate drum 7 is a driver disk 22-which may beconveniently associated with the intermediate drum 7 by a key 23. Thedriver disk ,22 carries means for traversing. the inner yarn carriers intheir raceway or circular path, as will presently appear.

Mounted upon the driver disk 22 are a I Y v series of shafts 24 mountedin suitable bearings 25 carried by the driver disk, and each shaft isprovided with a beveled pinion 27 which engages with the teeth of afixed disk or spider frame 28 which is secured to the central fixed drum4 as by means of the key 29. Each of the shafts 24 carries a drivingroll 30 adapted to engage a driving wheel 31 mounted on the inner yarncarriers 32.

Between the upstanding wall 5 of the.

outer revolving drum and the upstanding wall of-the inner fixed drum 4 araceway is rovided for the inner yarn carriers 32. As:

indicated in Fig. 1, each inner carrier 32 -has a shoe 33 which travelsin a recess 34 formed in the upstanding wall of the outer 'mbj revolvingdrum. Thelinner carriers 32 extend from their respective shoes 33inwardly and at their inner ends each has a roller 35 adapted to supportthe inner. and of each inner carrier. As indicated in Fig. 1, thesupporting rollers 35 rest upon the hub portion 36 of the spider frame28, andslightly inward of the supporting roller 35 is the yarn guidingdisk 37 for each of the inner yarn carriers, the'construction being suchthat upon operation of the main or driving shaft 15, the intermediatedrum 7 will be rotated tothereby actuate the driver disk 22 and througdithe driver rolls 30 traverse the inner yarn-carriers in their circularracc-.

way between the upstanding wall ofthe outer revolving drum 5 and theupstanding wall of the inner fixed drum 4.- The width of the racewaywhich thus accommodates the inner yarn carriers is substantially thesame as the radial dimension of the inner, yarn carriers, and suchrelation of parts is maintained regardless of the size of the outerrevolving drum and the inner fixed,

drum; From this relation of parts it will be apparent that the racewayfor the inner yarn carriers may be of any length and consequentlyprovided for the accommodation of any desired number of inner yarncarriers without at thesame time objectionally increasing the radialdistance-between the upstanding wall of the outer revolving drum and theupstanding Wall of the'innerfixed drum. .v As herembefore shown, theouter revolving drum 5 has a vertical bearing wall 38 v which is shownas resting upon the outer adjacent wall of the intermediate drum 7, andthis construction may sometimes be desirable in order to effectively andmore positivel associate the intermediate and outer revo vmg drums.Tlll'S bearing betweenthe two, however, isnot always necessary, becausethe roller raceway between the outer revolvin drum and the intermediatedrum may su cc to hold the parts in their deserves to maintain the outerrevolving drum seatedupon its ball raceway.

1 i The upstanding wall of the outer revolving drum 5 has securedthereto an outer yarn .carrier support 40 to which may be securedaseries of brackets 41, for slipper-t-- ing the outer yarn carriers '42.n the present instance, the brackets 41 have lugs 43 for supporting thebearings 44 of theouter yarn carriers42, and between the said brackets41 of each yarn carrier there is a guide 45 in the form of a bridge barconnecting the brackets 41, and the guide is provided near its ends withstops 46 for limiting the travel of the yarn as it is drawn from theouter yarn carriers. In some cases riers as the It will not be necessaryherein to further detail the specific construction of the inner yarncarriers since they may be of the general type shown,.or otherwiseconstructed; it will besufiicient to note that as the inner yarncarriers and outer yarn carriers are moved in opposite directions intheir circular paths of travel, the yarn a from the outer yarn carriersis caused to alternately move above and below the inner yarn cartraversein their circular path, as is usual in this type of machine.- One of thearms forraising and lowering the outer. I yarn as described is indicatedat 48, Fig. 1. Sucharm 48 may be conveniently actuated by a cam 49formed in the fixed ring 50 rising from the machine frame. 7

From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that araceway is formed between the upstanding walls of the outer revolvingdrum. 5 and the inner fixed drum t which is of a width, regardless ofits length, equal to or substantially equal to the radial dimension. ofthe inner yarn carriers,

' and when the outer revolving drum 'is envthe central fixed drum 4 iscoordinately enlarged, so that the general characteristics of the-raceway hereinbefore described as formed between the upstanding wall ofthe outer revolving drumand the upstanding wall of the central fixeddrum are main-, tained.

It will also be apparent that the radial extent of the outer revolvingdrum from its bearing relation with the central fixed. drum is notmaterially altered or changed when the outer revolv ng drum and centralfixed drum are themselves coordinately en- 1 larged to provide for anincreasednumber of the inner yarn carriers, so that the weight of theouter and inner yarn carrierswhich.

is transmitted wholly or partially through the outer revolving drum tothe central fixed drum, acts through a leverage which has not beenmaterially increased, even though the capacity of-the machine itselfforthe accommodation of an increased number of inner and outer yarncarriers has been in? creased. 4

- By the disposition of the associated parts, and particularly the innerfixed drum 4,

the intermediate drum 7 and the outer revolving drum 5, in connectionwith the bearings between these'parts, and especially the tw horizontalball raceways, the revolving drums and associated elements forming acomplete machine operate in a space of minimum height, with the resultthat when an- "other machine of like structure is superimiposed, theparts of the upper machine are .readily accessible to the machineattendant standing upon the floor.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the inner and outeryarns, which Iunay be of any usual kind of filament, such, fforinstance, as cotton, wool, silk or wire,

{are brought together at the braiding point 51 which may be located atthe lower end of a tube 52 supported by a collar or ring 53 which itselfmay be supported from a convenient stationary part. The braiding point51 in the present illustration is shown disposed axially above thecentral fixed drum 4, and upwardly through the drum 4 extends the core-l which is to be covered.

It is sometimes desirable to place upon the core a' preliminarycovering, such, for 1nstance, as tape, paperor othermsulated orwvater-proof material, and in accordance with the present invention, thecentral fixed .idruin 4 may have mounted therein such prelilninary coretreating devices.

As indicatedin Fig. 1, the central fixed drum 4 has an inwardlyextending flange 55 on \VlllChlS mounted a ring 56hav1ng brackets 57 forthe support of the tape or paper strip or other material, as indicatedat 58. .The ring 56 has its outer periphery provided with teeth 59 whichengage with the teeth of the pinion 60 mounted upon the i verticallty,driven 1" extending shaft 61 which may be om any suitable source ofpower and'which, in the present instance, is provided with the beveledgear 62 at its lower portion, which meshes with a pinion 63 mounted on ashaft 64 driven from some going part. From the construction of theelements within the central fixed drum 4 it will be'apparent that as thering 56 is rotated and the braiding machine is operated, that the corewill be moved endwise by suitable feeding means not herein shown, and asthe core is fed upwardly, in the present instance, the tape or paperstrip g or strips 58 will be laid spirally around the in accordance withthe present invention,

the outer revolving drum and the central fixed drum are coordinatelyenlarged, sub stantially as indicated in Fig. 3, so that while themachine is rendered capable of accommodatinga larger number of yarncarriers, the radial distance between the upstanding walls of the outerrevolving drum and of the central fixed drum may remain substantiallyunchanged, and provide between such upstanding walls of the two drums araceway for the inner yarn carriers without the introduction ofincreased leverage. Y

Referring to Fig. 8, the raceway for the inner yarn carriers is shown asformed between the upstanding walls of the outer revolving drum and theupper edge portion of the central fixed drum 4. In other words,

in Fig. 3, the inner supporting rollers 35 of the inner yarn carriers 32travel upon the upper inclined surface 65 of the central fixed drum' l.In this construction also the spider rack 28 has its upper portion cutaway as at 66 to permit the free passage of the yarn between the guide37 at the inner end of each carrier and the parts heneath.

lVith the exception that in Fig. 3 the outer I revolving drum and thecentral fixed drum have been made of larger-diameter than indicatcd inFig. 1, to provide for an increasedadapted to contain means for applyinga strip of covering material upon the core to be braided, inner yarncarriers, a raceway for thein'neryarn carriers formed between thevertical walls of the fixed central andv outer revolving drums, andmeans for moving the outer'drum and inner yarn carriers in circularpaths in opposite directions.

2. In a braiding machine, the combination of an outerrevolving drumhaving outer yarn carrier supports, a series of inner yarn carriershaving a race-way, a fixed central drum about which the outer revolvingdrum rotates and having a central well and an annular wall that isspaced inwardly from the outer revolving drum only to a sufiicientextent to prov'ide'a race-way for the inner carriers between the twodrums, and means for traveling the outer yarn carriers and inner yarncarriers in circular paths in opposite directions.

3. In a braiding machine, the combination of an outer revolving drumhaving outer yarn carrier supports, a series of inner yarn carriershaving a race-way, a fixed central drum about which the outer revolvingdrum rotates and having a central well and an annular wall that isspaced inwardly from the outer revolving drum only to a sufficienttravelingthe inner yarn carriers in a cir-- separation of the verticalwalls of the drums,

means Within the central fixed drum let" an 1 plying an unbraidedpreliminary covering extent to provide a. race-way for the innercarriers between the two drums, a bearing for the enter revolving drumwhich lies radially outward beyond the inner limit of the circularrace-way, and means for traveling the outer yarn carriers and inner yarncarriers in circular paths in opposite directions.

4. In a braiding machine of the character described, the combination ofan outer revolving drum having outer yarn carrier supports, a fixedcentral drumihaving a race-v way between it and the outer revolvingdrum, said fixed central drum having a large central well and anannularwall that is spaced inwardly from the outer revolving drum onlyto a suflicient extent to provide the race-way for the inner yarncarriers between the drums, a series of inner yarn carriers, and meansfor traveling the inner yarn carriersin a circular path about theraceway, whereby the distance between the fixed and revolving drumremains constant regardless of the size of the braiding machine andaffords a construction of minimum weight.

5. In a braiding machine of the character described, the combination ofan outer revolving drum, a fixed central drum about which the outer drumrotates and having a central well, the vertical walls of the two drumsbeing radially separated only to an extent sufficient to provide araceway passage for inner yarn carriers that the size of the machine maybe indefinitely increased to accommodate an increased number'of inneryarn carriers without increasing the distance between the vertical wallsof the fixed and revolving drums, a series of inner yarn carriers havinghorizontal axes, and means for cular path in said. raceway...

6. In a braiding machine of the character described, the combination ofan outer revolving drum, a fixed central drum about which the outer drumrotates and having a central well, the vertical walls of the two drumsbeing radially separated only to an extent sufiicient to provide araceway passage for inner yarn carriers that the size of the machine maybe indefinitely increased to accommodate an increased number of inneryarn carriers without increasing the distance between the vertical wallsof the fixed and revolving drums, a series of inner yarn can riershaving horizontal axes and supported at their inner and outer ends bythe two drums, and means for travelin the inner yarn carriers in acircular path in said aceway.

7. In a braiding machine, the combination of an outer revolving drum forouter yarn carriers, :1 fixed central drum that rotatahly supports theouter revolving drum, the cylindrical. walls of which drums define thewidth of the raceway for inner yarn carriers that the size of the twodrums may be coincidently increased to provide for an increase in thenumber of inner yarn carriers while maintaining the same radialseparation of yon'd'the ball bearing between the central andintermediate drums,

9. In a braiding. machine, thecombination of an outer revolving idrumhaving outer yarn carrier supports, a fixed central drum extendingthrough the outer revloving drum and forming a raceway for inner yarncarriers between thevertical walls of said fixed and revolving drums ofa width substantially equal to the radial dimension ot the inner yarncarriers, means within the central fixed drum for laying a preliminarycovering upon the core, and means for traveling the outer and inner yarncarriers in circular aths in opposite directions.

10. In a raiding machine, the combination of an outer revolving drum forouter yarn carriers, a fixed central drum, the cylindrical walls ofwhich drums define the width of the raceway for inner yarn can riersthat the size of the two drums may be coincidently increased toprovidefor an increase in the number of inner yarn carriers Whilemaintaining the same radial upon the core, a series'of inner yarncarriers, and means for traveling the inner andouter yarn carriers inopposite directions.

11. In a braiding machin tion of a central fixed large die E. eter, anintermediate drum that encircles the fixed drum, a revolving outer drumhaving a raceway for inner yarn carriers and the combine having a hubthat rotates about the inter outer yarn carriers, a series of inner yarncarriers, and'means for traversing the inner and outer yarn carriers inopposite directions to braid filaments u ona covered core.

14. In a braiding mac ine, the combination of an outer revolving drumprovided with supports for the outer yarn masses, a series of inner yarncarriers having a raceway, a, fixed central drum about which the outerrevolving drum rotates and having a central well thediameter of which ismany times reater than the diameter of the braid forme upon the machine,said "fixed drum having an annular wall that is s aced in wardly fromthe outer revolving ruin only to a suficient extent to provide arace-way for the inner carriers between the two drums, and nfeans foradvancing the outer and inner yarn carriers in circular paths about theaxis of the braiding machine.

a 15. In a braiding machine, the combinationof an outer revolving drumprovided with supports for the outer yarn masses and having asufliciently large'eircumference to form the race-way for the outer endsof a large number of inner yarn carriers, a series of inneriyarncarriers engaging said race-way and having a radial length much lessthan the radius of said drum, :1 fixed central drum provided with arace-Way for the inner ends of the inner yarn carriers and having alarge central well and an annular -wall that is spaced inwardly from theouter revolving drum only to a suflicient extent to accommodate theradial length of the inner carrier between the two drums, and means foradvancing the outer and inner yarn carriers in circular paths inopposite directions.

name to this specification.

OTTO A. FREDERICKSON.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my

